I Found a New Picture of the HMS Kestrel Dog in the WW I Plane

One of the pictures that accompany this blog is of the bulldog dog in the cockpit of what appears to be a WW I plane.  I attempted to find out some more information about it.

I came across a similar photo, this time in color, of the English bulldog in the cockpit of the WW I era airplane.

He is wearing an HMS Kestrel sailor hat.

At first I thought that meant the plane might have flown off the HMS Kestrel, but since it was a destroyer, it was way too small to have a plane.  Plus, I did not read anything about it having a plane.

So, not sure about why the bulldog had the hat on in that plane.

Quite the Dog.

Neat Picture, Though.  --Cooter

A Civil War Connection with the USS Winslow

In the last post, I wrote that Ensign Worth Bagley, brother of David Bagley, USN, was the only naval officer killed in action during the Spanish-American War when his ship, the torpedo boat USS Winslow was hit by a shell from a Spanish warship.

The USS Winslow (TB-5) was named after the famed CivilWar naval officer John Ancrum Winslow who commanded the USS Kearsarge when it sank the Confederate commerce raider CSS Alabama.

There was also a World War I destroyer, the USS Winslow (DD--53), an O'Brien-class destroyer which was decommissioned in 1922.

The destroyer USS Winslow  (DD-359), a Porter-class destroyer commissioned in 1937 that served in World War II  It was named for John Ancrum Winslow and his second cousin, Admiral Cameron Winslow.

Cameron Winslow served in the Spanish-American War and World War I.

Looks like I'll have to be doing some RoadTrippin' Through History.

--Cooter

Adm. David Bagley-- Part 7: A Long Career and Namesakes

He was releived of all duties on March 12, 1946, and placed on the retired list with the rank of admiral on April 7, 1947 after 42 years of continuous service.  Admiral Bagley died at  the Naval Hospital, San Diego, California, on May 24, 1960.

Admiral Bagley is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

************************

The first three vessels named USS Bagley:  Torpedo Boat  No. 24, DD-185 and DD--386 were named for  Ensign Worth Bailey (the only naval officer killed in action in the Spanish-American War).  The fourth, DE-1069, was named for both  Worth Bagley and his brother, Admiral David W. Bagley.

Bagley Amphitheater at Barbers Point, Hawaii, was completed 1 April 1945 with seating capacity for 7,200.  

--Cooter

Admiral David W. Bagley-- Part 5: Commander Battleship Division 2, Based in Pearl Harbor

In May 1935,orders were sent to Bagley in Newport, Rhode Island, to attend the Naval War College.  Upon completing his senior course, he remained there as a staff member.  Next came duty as Commander, Destroyer Squadron 20, Destroyers, Scouting Fleet.  

From July 1937 to May 1938, he served as Commander, Minecraft, Battle Force.  While in that position, he was promoted to flag rank, to date from April 1, 1938.  In May of that year, now Rear Admiral David W. Bagley, began a 32-month tour of duty as Commandant, Mare Island Navy Yard on the West Coast.

At the beginning of 1941, he broke his flag on the USS Tennessee (BB-43), as Commander, Battleship Division 2.  And they were based at a little-known to many Americans, island base  out in the Pacific Ocean called Pearl Harbor.

--Cooter

Admiral David W. Bagley, USN (Commander of the USS Jacob Jones)-- Part 1: From a Naval Family

He was the commander of the USS Jacob Jones  (DD-61) which was sunk by a German U-boat in World War I.  I have been writing about this ship in the last several blogs.  The wreck of this ship has just recently been found.

From Wikipedia.

DAVID WORTH BAGLEY

(January 8, 1883 to May 24, 1960)

Was an admiral in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  (I will be writing about him in this blog and not my World War II one because of his command of the Jacob Jones.)

He was the brother of Ensign Worth Bagley, the only  United States Navy officer killed in action during the Spanish-American War and the father of admirals  David H. Bagley and Worth H. Bagley.  So this is another one of those big-time Navy families.

His father, William Henry Bagley, was a Confederate officer from North Carolina.

Looks like I'll have to do some more RoadTrippin' Through History with this family.

--Cooter

USS Jacob Jones (DD-61)-- Part 7: Honors Awarded and Wreck Found

Several men were recognized for their actions in the aftermath of the torpedo attack. Stanton F. Kalk (posthumously) and Commander David W. Bagley received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Others honored included  Chief Boatswain's Mate Harry Gibson (postumously) and Chief Electrician's Mate L. J. Kelly, who both received the Navy Cross.

Richards,  Scott and Chief Boatswain's Mate  Charles Charlesworth all received letters of commendation.

The German commander, Hans Rose was awarded the Pour le Merite and Ritterkreuz des Hohenzollerschen Hausordens mit Schwertem for this and other achievements during the war.

WRECK LOCATED

On August 11, 2022, British  deep sea divers located the wreck of the Jacob Jones off the coast of  the Isles of Scilly at a depth of 377 feet.  Numerous artifacts were  located, including the ship's bell.

AsI mentioned before, there was also a USS Jacob Jones (DD-245) that was also sunk by a U-boat in World War II.  I will eventually write about it in my Tattooed on Your Soul:  World War II blog

USS Jacob Jones (DD-61)-- Part 5: Sank in Eight Minutes

The destroyer's commander, David W. Bagley, ordered all life boats launched.  As the ship sank, her bow raisd in the air almost vertically before she sank.  At this point, the armed depth charges near the stern began to explode, killing men unable to escape the destroyer and stunning many in the water.

The Jacob Jones was the first American destroyer ever lost to enemy action. It sank in just eight minutes after being hit by the torpedo.  Two officers and 64 men of the crew died out its 99 man complement.

Several of the crew, including Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Stanton F. Klak, the officer-of-the-deck, when the torpedo struck, began to get men out of the water and into life rafts.  He was working in the cold North Atlantic waters and was striving to equalize  the loads on the various rafts.  Sadly, he died  of exhaustion and exposure.

USS Jacob Jones (DD-61)-- Part 3: Rescuing Survivors

On 8 July 1917, the Jones rescued 44 survivors from the Valetta, torpedoed by the U- 87.  While escorting the British steamship Dafila two weeks later, lookouts on the USS  Jacob Jones spotted a periscope, but before it could attack, the U-45 torpedoed and sank the steamship.  The Jones rescued 26 of the 29 crew members before it sank.

On 19 October the British armed merchant cruiser Orama and ten destroyers, including the Jacob Jones were escorting an eastbound convoy of twenty steamers, when the U-62 surfaced in the midst of the group.  The submarine launched its only remaining torpedo and sank the Orama.  The Jones then rescued 309 survivors.

--Cooter

USS Jacob Jones (DD-61)

From Wikipedia.

Was a Tucker-class destroyer and first U.S. warship named for Jacob Nicholas Jones (there were two others).

It was laid down 4 August 1914, launched  19 May 1915 and commissioned  10 February 1916.

*********************************

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

LENGTH:  315 feet 3 inches

BEAM:  30 feet 6 inches

DRAFT:  9 feet 8 inches

 SPEED:  30 knots

COMPLEMENT:  99 officers and enlisted

ARMAMENT:

Four 4-inch guns

Eight 21-inch torpedo tubes

--Cooter

Wreck of First U.S. Destroyer Lost to Enemy Action Found: The USS Jacob Jones

From the August 19, 2022, Chicago Tribune "WW I Navy destroyer."

The wreck of the first U.S. Navy destroyer lost to enemy action has been found off the coast of southwest England, 105 years after it was sunk by a German submarine.

A team of British divers announced the find on Facebook last week saying it was thrilled to have located the World War I ship, the USS Jacob Jones, about sixty nautical miles south of Newlyn, a fishing harbor in Cornwall.

More than a century ago, in 1917, after the United States entered World War I against Germany, the Jacob Jones left Boston for Ireland, whetre it performed rescue operations, picking up survivors from British steamships that had been hit by German submarines and escorting convoys through dangerous waters.

On December 6, 1917, the Jacob Jones left Brest, France, for Queenstown, Ireland, according to U.S. Naval records.  About 20 miles off the coast of southern England, a German submarine torpedoed the Jones.  There were seven officers and 103 crew members aboard the ship.  Eight minutes later, the ship sank, and 64 men  lost their lives.

--Cooter

USS McCall (DD-28)-- Part 2: A Paulding-Class Destroyer

From Wikipedia.

Was a Paulding-class destroyer during World War I and later  in the U.S. Coast Guard as  (CG-14).  She was the first ship named for Edward McCall of War of 1812 fame.  She was laid down  on 8 June 1909 by the New York  Shipbuilding Company, Camden, New Jersey, and launched  4 June 1910.  Commissioned  23 January 1911.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Length:  293 feet 10 inches

Beam:  27 feet

Draft:  8 feet 4 inches

Speed:  29.5 knots

 Complement:  4 officers, 78 enlisted

Armament:

Five 3-inch guns

Six 18-inch torpedo tubes

--Cooter

USS McCall (DD-28)-- Part 1

This month I am writing about American War of 1812 hero Edward R. McCall in my Not So Forgotten:  War of 1812 blog.  He received a Congressional Gold Medal and had a special medal made for him for his actions on board the brig USS Enterprise in its battle with the British brig HMS Boxer off the coast of Maine in 1813.

He had two ships named after him.  The first one which I am writing about here, took part in World War I and was one of the U.S. Navy's earliest destroyers.  The second one fought in the World War II and I am writing about that in my Tattooed on Your Soul: World War II blog.

World War I and World War II with a War of 1812 connection.

--Cooter

USS Gridley (DD-92)-- Part 2: Aided the First Transatlantic Seaplane Flight

The Gridley was launched by Union Ironworks of San Francisco, California , om 4 July 1918, sponsored by Mrs. Francis P. Thomas, daughter of Captain  Charles Vernon Gridley, for whom the vessel was named.  (Find-a-Grave lists just one daughter, Katherine V. Gridley Buddy (1873-1957).

After fitting out at Mare Island Navy Yard, she departed San Diego on  14 March 1919, and transited the Panama Canal for maneuvers in Cuban waters then to Norfolk, Virginia, for repairs and then to New York City on 22 April 1919.

Its first assignment was with a group of destroyers posted along the route of the Navy's first transatlantic seaplane flight.  The Gridley and other destroyers used smoke and flares to guide the intrepid flyers and with the help of other surface ships, the N4 was successfully able to fly across the Atlantic and land in the Azores on 17 March  1919.

--Cooter

USS Gridley (DD-92)-- Part 1

Last month's featured U.S. warship was the USS Gridley (DDG-101).  There were  three other USS Gridleys in the Navy.

They were all named after Charles V. Gridley of USS Olympia/Dewey "You may fire when ready, Gridley" fame.  I have also written a lot about him in this blog and my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog.

This was the first of the four USS Gridleys.

From Wikipedia. 

The first Gridley was a Wickes-class destroyer commissioned after World War I.  Ships of this class were often called Four Stackers for the four smokestacks on each one.

It was launched  4 July 1918 and commissioned 8 March 1919.  Decommissioned  22 June 1922 and sold for scrap  19 April 1939.

315 feet long, 

 31 foot beam,  four 4-inch guns and  twelve 21-inch torpedo tubes.

--Cooter

John H. Russell, Jr., 16th Commandant USMC-- Part 1: Son of Navy Mexican and Civil War Officer

From Wikipedia.

Earlier this month, I was writing about the USS Russell (DDG-59) which was the November featured U.S. warship in the 2021 Paralyzed Veterans of America calendar.

This ship was named after John H. Russell, Sr. and John H. Russell, Jr..  John H. Russell, Sr. was a U.S. Navy officer in the Mexican War and Civil War.  I wrote about him in my Running the Blockade:  Civil War Navy blog thus month.

John Jr., followed his father into military service, only with the U.S. Marines.

Born November 14, 1872.  Died March 6, 1947.

He was born at Mare Island, California, and the son of Rear Admiral John Henry Russell (1827-1897) and appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy by President Grover Cleveland in May 1888.  Graduated in June 1892, spent two years at sea, passed his final examinations and transferred to the USMC as a second lieutenant  on July 1, 1894.

In 1896, he joined the USS Massachusetts of the North Atlantic Squadron and served on that ship until after the end of the Spanish-American War.  The Massachusetts operated in waters off Cuba and Puerto Rico during the conflict, but was not at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.

--Cooter

USS Russell (DDG-59)-- Part 3: A Whole Lotta Don't Mess With Me Ship

MORE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

(From Wikipedia)

RANGE:  4,400 nautical miles at 20 knots

COMPLEMENT:  33 commissioned officers, 38 chief petty officers, 210 enlisted

SENSORS AND PROCESSING SYSTEMS:  8 systems

ELECTRONIC WARFARE AND DECOYS:  5 systems  (I don't now about you, but with this and the above, I wouldn't want to mess with this ship.

ARMAMENT:  

Two missile-launching  systems with 90 missiles

2 Harpoon missile launchers

1 Mark  45 gun

2  25 mm chain guns

4 50-caliber guns

2  20mm Phalanx CIWS

2 MK 32 triple torpedo tubes

AIRCRAFT:  2 Sikorski helicopters can be embarked

Again, Bad Guys, Stay Away from This Ship.  --CootDon'tMessWithMe

USS Russell (DDG-59)-- Part 2:

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

ORDERED:   22 February 1990

LAID DOWN:  24 July 1992

LAUNCHED:  20 October 1993

COMMISSIONED:  20 May 1995

HOMEPORT:  San Diego

MOTTO:  "Strength in Freedom"

******************

LENGTH:  505 feet

BEAM:   59 feet

DRAFT:  31 feet

SPEED:  30 knots

--Cooter

U.S. Warships: USS Russell (DDG-59)

From the Paralyzed Veterans of America November 2021 Calendar.

Each month, this calendar features a U.S. Navy warship that is currently in service.

This month's ship is the guided missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG-59).

It is an Arleigh Burke-class ship, commissioned 20 May 1995 and home ported in San Diego.  It is the second ship in the U.S. Navy by the name of John Henry Russell.  John Henry Russell was a rear admiral in the Navy who fought in the Mexican War and the Civil War.  His son, John Henry Russell, Jr. was the 16th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.

It was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

--Cooter

He Fired When Ready-- Part 9: Charles Gridley's Legacy

Jackalope did a good job of summing up the life of this true American.

So, what's the appeal of Gridley.  he was well-liked by all, but not particularly regarded for his gallantry, military acumen, or initiative.  He provided years of service to his country, but achieved little  distinction. His only real claim to fame  was that eh was standing next to the man of the hour when that man's moment finally came.

Even the Battle of Manila Bay  was largely a meaningless victory -- the Spanish fleet never really had a chance, and the U.S. lacked the strength to take  and hold the Philippines afterwards.  In fact, they spent the next three months trying to prevent the Germans from taking them.

Yet, Dewey's famous order has secured Gridley's place in the history books for eternity.  In addition to the park in Erie, Pennsylvania, he's also lent his name to four ships in the U.S. Navy, a type of destroyer, and a National Guard training camp in Pennsylvania.

His alma mater, Hillsdale College, added a seashell to their coat of arms to honor his service.  For someone who did relatively little, he made the most of what little he actually did.  (Or he would have had he lived after the battle.)

But maybe that's part of his mystique.  He's a well-regarded heroic figure who died at the peak of his fame.  He never had the chance to disappoint the public or to be revealed as a lucky mediocrity like Dewey.  He's too big to be built up, but too small to bother tearing down.

In hindsight, he's a man who seems to have been destined to be a footnote in history.

Well, that is one big footnote and I'd sure settle for it myself.  A great American in every way.

And to think that just a little over a month ago I had no knowledge of this man other than the quote.  I didn't even know that he fought during the Civil War.

From M.B. to M.B..   From the Battle of Mobile Bay to the Battle of Manila Bay.  And it would have been even better if I had found that he was at the Battles of Fort Fisher, but at least George Dewey was.

You May Stop This Blog When Ready, Cooter.  --DaCoot

U.S. Warships USS William P. Lawrence-- Part 2

A full page picture comes with the month of August showing the USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110) and amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD-20) sailing with 15 other U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Australian Navy, Canadian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships in formation during Talisman Sabre 2019.

Talisman Sabre 2019 illustrates the closeness of the Australian and U.S. alliance and strength of the military-to-military relationship.  This is the eight iteration of this exercise.

--Cooter